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Ian McDiarmid

Bio: Ian McDiarmid is a Scottish actor and director best known for portraying Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film series. He has received an Olivier Award for Best Actor and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performances

Born: Fri, Aug 11 1944

Birthplace: Carnoustie, Tayside, Scotland, UK

Ian McDiarmid is 80 years old

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Acting Roles

Crew Roles

Movies (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return

Ian McDiarmid was

78 in Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return

as 'Self - Emperor Palpatine'.

Wed, Sep 07 2022

The Skywalker Legacy

Ian McDiarmid was

75 in The Skywalker Legacy

as 'Self'.

Wed, Mar 18 2020

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid was

75 in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

as 'Emperor Palpatine'.

Wed, Dec 18 2019

The Lost City of Z

Ian McDiarmid was

72 in The Lost City of Z

as 'Sir George Goldie'.

Wed, Mar 15 2017

Star Wars: Greatest Moments

Ian McDiarmid was

71 in Star Wars: Greatest Moments

as 'Self'.

Sat, Dec 26 2015

Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel

Ian McDiarmid was

71 in Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel

as 'Self'.

Tue, Dec 15 2015

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

Ian McDiarmid was

70 in Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

as 'Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

Sat, Apr 18 2015

The Odds

Ian McDiarmid was

65 in The Odds

Tue, Oct 20 2009

Margaret

Ian McDiarmid was

64 in Margaret

as 'Denis Thatcher'.

Thu, Mar 26 2009

Our Hidden Lives

Ian McDiarmid was

61 in Our Hidden Lives

as 'B. Charles'.

Mon, Oct 03 2005

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Ian McDiarmid was

60 in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

as 'Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious'.

Tue, May 17 2005

Star Wars: A Musical Journey

Ian McDiarmid was

60 in Star Wars: A Musical Journey

as 'Host'.

Tue, May 03 2005

The Story of Star Wars

Ian McDiarmid was

60 in The Story of Star Wars

as 'Palpatine/The Emperor (archive footage)'.

Wed, Aug 18 2004

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Ian McDiarmid was

57 in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

as 'Chancellor Palpatine'.

Wed, May 15 2002

Crime and Punishment

Ian McDiarmid was

57 in Crime and Punishment

as 'Porfiry'.

Tue, Feb 12 2002

The Beginning: Making Episode I

Ian McDiarmid was

57 in The Beginning: Making Episode I

as 'Self'.

Tue, Oct 16 2001

Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend

Ian McDiarmid was

55 in Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend

as 'Self'.

Tue, May 23 2000

Sleepy Hollow

Ian McDiarmid was

55 in Sleepy Hollow

as 'Dr. Lancaster'.

Fri, Nov 19 1999

All the King's Men

Ian McDiarmid was

55 in All the King's Men

as 'Rev. Pierrepoint Edwards'.

Sun, Nov 14 1999

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception

Ian McDiarmid was

55 in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception

as 'Prof. Levi'.

Sun, Oct 31 1999

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Ian McDiarmid was

54 in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

as 'Senator Palpatine'.

Wed, May 19 1999

Great Expectations

Ian McDiarmid was

54 in Great Expectations

as 'Jaggers'.

Mon, Apr 12 1999

Hillsborough

Ian McDiarmid was

52 in Hillsborough

as 'Doctor Popper, Coroner'.

Wed, Sep 11 1996

Restoration

Ian McDiarmid was

51 in Restoration

as 'Ambrose'.

Fri, Dec 29 1995

Annie: A Royal Adventure

Ian McDiarmid was

51 in Annie: A Royal Adventure

as 'Dr. Eli Eon'.

Sat, Nov 18 1995

Heart of Darkness

Ian McDiarmid was

49 in Heart of Darkness

as 'Doctor'.

Fri, Oct 01 1993

Chernobyl: The Final Warning

Ian McDiarmid was

46 in Chernobyl: The Final Warning

as 'Dr. Vatisenko'.

Mon, Apr 22 1991

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Ian McDiarmid was

44 in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

as 'Arthur'.

Wed, Dec 14 1988

Gorky Park

Ian McDiarmid was

39 in Gorky Park

as 'Prof. Andreev'.

Thu, Dec 15 1983

Return of the Jedi

Ian McDiarmid was

38 in Return of the Jedi

as 'The Emperor'.

Wed, May 25 1983

Last Night Another Dissident...

Ian McDiarmid was

36 in Last Night Another Dissident...

as 'Fedka'.

Wed, Jul 01 1981

Dragonslayer

Ian McDiarmid was

36 in Dragonslayer

as 'Brother Jacopus'.

Fri, Jun 26 1981

Richard's Things

Ian McDiarmid was

36 in Richard's Things

as 'Burglar'.

Fri, Dec 26 1980

Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

Ian McDiarmid was

36 in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

as 'Reg Smeeton'.

Fri, Nov 07 1980

The Awakening

Ian McDiarmid was

35 in The Awakening

as 'Dr. Richter'.

Wed, Jul 09 1980

Macbeth

Ian McDiarmid was

34 in Macbeth

as 'The Porter / Ross'.

Fri, Feb 02 1979

Amazing Stories

Ian McDiarmid was

31 in Amazing Stories

as 'Blade'.

Sun, Feb 01 1976

The Likely Lads

Ian McDiarmid was

31 in The Likely Lads

as 'Vicar'.

Sun, Feb 01 1976

TV Shows (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Ages in TV shows are based off the first air date and may not be accurate. View individual episode details for accurate ages

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

Ian McDiarmid was

78+ in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

as 'Darth Sidious (voice)'.

First Air Date
Wed, Oct 26 2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ian McDiarmid was

77+ in Obi-Wan Kenobi

as 'Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious'.

First Air Date
Thu, May 26 2022

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Ian McDiarmid was

76+ in Star Wars: The Bad Batch

as 'Darth Sidious / Emperor Palpatine (voice), Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

First Air Date
Tue, May 04 2021

Britannia

Ian McDiarmid was

73+ in Britannia

as 'King Pellenor'.

First Air Date
Thu, Jan 18 2018

Star Wars Rebels

Ian McDiarmid was

70+ in Star Wars Rebels

as 'Emperor Palpatine, Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

First Air Date
Mon, Oct 13 2014

37 Days

Ian McDiarmid was

69+ in 37 Days

as 'Sir Edward Grey'.

First Air Date
Thu, Mar 06 2014

Utopia

Ian McDiarmid was

68+ in Utopia

as 'Anton'.

First Air Date
Tue, Jan 15 2013

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Ian McDiarmid was

64+ in Star Wars: The Clone Wars

as 'Darth Sidious (voice) (archive sound)'.

First Air Date
Fri, Oct 03 2008

City of Vice

Ian McDiarmid was

63+ in City of Vice

as 'Henry Fielding'.

First Air Date
Mon, Jan 14 2008

Elizabeth I

Ian McDiarmid was

61+ in Elizabeth I

as 'Lord Burghley'.

First Air Date
Thu, Sep 29 2005

Charles II: The Power and The Passion

Ian McDiarmid was

59+ in Charles II: The Power and The Passion

as 'Sir Edward Hyde'.

First Air Date
Sun, Nov 16 2003

Spooks

Ian McDiarmid was

57+ in Spooks

as 'Prof. Fred Roberts'.

First Air Date
Mon, May 13 2002

Crime and Punishment

Ian McDiarmid was

57+ in Crime and Punishment

as 'Porfiry'.

First Air Date
Tue, Feb 12 2002

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Ian McDiarmid was

57+ in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

as 'Professor Jacques Levi'.

First Air Date
Sun, Jan 13 2002

Karaoke

Ian McDiarmid was

51+ in Karaoke

as 'Oliver Morse'.

First Air Date
Sun, Apr 28 1996

The Modern World: Ten Great Writers

Ian McDiarmid was

43+ in The Modern World: Ten Great Writers

as 'Dostoevsky'.

First Air Date
Sun, Jan 10 1988

Inspector Morse

Ian McDiarmid was

42+ in Inspector Morse

as 'Hugo De Vries'.

First Air Date
Tue, Jan 06 1987

The Nation's Health

Ian McDiarmid was

39+ in The Nation's Health

as 'Dr Vernon Davis'.

First Air Date
Thu, Oct 06 1983

The Professionals

Ian McDiarmid was

33+ in The Professionals

as 'Mickey Hamilton'.

First Air Date
Fri, Dec 30 1977